Basic Aerodynamics & Theory of Flight

By Ahmad Ahsan

Course Outline
Introduction Bernoullis Principle Airfoil & Airfoil Shapes Aircraft Structure Flight Controls Four Forces of Flight Three Axes of Movement Aircraft Control & Stability Wings Aerodynamic Forces of Flight Simulation

The course has been designed based on the recommended outline of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB Aviation Curriculum Guide) in addition to a number of other sources.

Responsibilities
Attendance Assignments Presentations Case Studies

Project

Reference Materials
Textbook : Aircraft Flight: A description of the physical principles of aircraft flight. Fourth Edition. RH Barnard and Dr Philpott FAA H-8083-25A Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA H-8083-15A Instrument Flying Handbook FAA 80T-80 Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators Glenn Research Center, NASA. grc.nasa.gov NASA Foilsim

Outline Basic Aerodynamics

Introduction & Definition Theories The Atmosphere Newtons Laws of Motion Bernoullis Principle

Airfoil & Airfoil Shapes Angle of Attack & Incidence Aircraft Structure Flight Controls Four Forces of Flight Three Axes of Movement Aircraft Control

Definition

Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics that deals with the motion of air and other gaseous fluids, and with the forces acting on bodies in motion relative to such fluids

Websters Dictionary

Aerodynamics is made of two Greek words: aerios, concerning the air, dynamis, which means force Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting motion of objects through the air.

NASA

Definition
In simple terms, we can describe aerodynamics as the study of objects in motion through the air and the forces that produce or change such motion. Understanding aerodynamics is the key to understanding how aircraft fly It is vital for safety to understand the basic principles of aerodynamics In order to understand aerodynamics, we will start with the environment of the aircraft The Atmosphere

The Atmosphere
Air is a mixture of gases composed principally of nitrogen and oxygen. An aircraft operates in the air, therefore, the properties of air that affect aircraft control and performance must be understood. These include, pressure, density, and humidity.

The Atmosphere
Pressure Amount of force exerted per unit area. Atmospheric pressure varies with altitude. At higher altitude pressure decreases.

The Atmosphere
Density is the amount of matter contained in a certain volume. Density of air is the amount of air molecules in a certain volume. It varies directly with the pressure and inversely with the temperature.

The Atmosphere

Humidity Humidity is amount of water vapor in the air.

It varies directly with temperature. Warmer is the air, more water vapor it can hold.

Newtons Laws of Motion

Newtons First Law: Every object persists in its state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed on it. Second law of motion states: If an object moving with uniform speed is acted upon by an external force, the acceleration will be directly proportional to the amount of force and inversely proportional to the mass of the object. The motion will take place in the direction in which the force acts, Hence F = m a

Newtons Laws of Motion

Newton's Third Law of Motion (action and reaction) The third law of motion states that for every action (force) there is an equal and opposite reaction (force).
Balloon

Reaction

Air

Action

 Bernoulli's principle states that As the velocity of a moving fluid (liquid or gas) increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases.
Hence high speed flow of air = low pressure of air When a fluid flowing through a tube reaches a narrowing of the tube, the speed is increased and its pressure is decreased.

Bernoullis Principle

The Airfoil
Any surface, such as a wing, propeller, rudder, or even a trim tab, which provides aerodynamic force when it interacts with a moving stream of air. FAA The mean camber line is a line drawn midway between the upper and lower surfaces The chord line is a straight line connecting the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil.

Angle of Attack

The angle of attack is the angle between the chord line and the average relative wind.

Greater angle of attack creates more lift (up to a point).

 The upper surface of an airplanes wing is designed to have a greater curvature or camber as compared to lower surface. This greater curvature causes air to flow faster over the upper surface. Due to higher speed, the pressure decreases. On the lower pressure, the lesser curvature causes decrease in speed and increase in pressure. This creates Lift

Bernoullis Principle & Airfoil

Aircraft Structure Aircraft Structure

Four Forces of Flight

LIFT

THRUST

DRAG

WEIGHT

Lift is the force created by the interaction between the wings and Lift

the airflow. It opposes the downward force of weight. Lift is an aerodynamic force and is directly proportional to the square of velocity. It is produced by the dynamic effect of the air acting on the airfoil. It acts perpendicular to the flight path. Aircraft lift acts through a single point LIFT called the center of pressure. Lift Equation: L= V2A CL

Weight

Weight is the combined load of the aircraft, crew, fuel, passengers, and the cargo. Weight pulls the aircraft downward because of the force of gravity. It opposes lift, and acts through the aircrafts center of gravity (CG) Weight is not constant

WEIGHT

Thrust
Thrust is the forward force produced by the powerplant,propeller or rotor. It opposes or overcomes the force of drag. Direction of thrust depends on design

THRUST

Drag

Drag is a rearward acting force that resists the motion of aircraft through the air. It is an aerodynamic force and like lift varies to square of velocity. Two broad drag classifications. Parasite drag: caused by disruption of airflow by the wing, rotor, fuselage, and other parts of structure. Induced drag: produced as reaction of lift Drag Equation: D= V2A CD

DRAG

Axes of Aircraft

The axes of an aircraft are three imaginary lines that pass through an aircrafts CG. The axes can be considered as imaginary axles around which the aircraft turns. The three axes pass through the CG at 90 angles to each other. The axis from nose to tail is the longitudinal axis. The axis that passes from wingtip to wingtip is the lateral axis. The axis that passes vertically through the CG is the vertical axis. Whenever an aircraft changes its flight attitude or position in flight, it rotates about one or more of the three axes

Three Axes of Movement

Vertical Axis Axis of Yaw (Vertical Axis)

Longitudinal Axis

Axis of Roll (Longitudinal Axis)

Lateral Axis

Axis of Pitch (Lateral Axis)

Control around the Longitudinal Axis Control around the Longitudinal Axis

The Ailerons control movement on the lateral axis called rolling. The Ailerons control movement on the lateral axis called rolling.

Control around the Vertical Axis Control around the Vertical Axis
Rudder The rudder controls the movement around vertical axis Rudder The rudder controls the called yawing.

movement around vertical axis

called yawing.

Moving rudder to the right forces tail to the left, nose to the right

Moving rudder to the left forces tail to the right, nose to the left.

Moving rudder to the right forces tail to the left, nose to the right

Moving rudder to the left forces tail to the right, nose to the left.

Control around the Lateral Axis Control around the Lateral Axis

Elevators are used to control Elevators are used to control movement about the lateral axis movement about the lateral axis
called pitching called pitching

Control around the Longitudinal Axis

Sources

FAA H-8083-25A FAA H-8083-15A NASA Guide to Aerodynamics Aircraft Flight:A Description of the Physical Principles of Aircraft Flight Kansas University Aerospace

The Ailerons control movement on the lateral axis called rolling.

The End